Lavrov Addresses Alleged Nuclear Test Amidst Rising Tensions

Russia is preparing proposals for potential nuclear testing following President Vladimir Putin's orders last week, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced Saturday. The move comes as a direct response to President Donald Trump's directive to the U.S. military to resume nuclear weapons testing, though neither country has clarified what type of testing they mean.

Lavrov told Russian news agency TASS that work is underway to implement Putin's instructions. But he said Russia hasn't received any explanation from the United States about Trump's nuclear testing order from last month.

Trump ordered the military to immediately resume nuclear weapons testing operations last week. The directive left crucial details unclear - whether he meant testing missile launches with nuclear capability or resuming tests involving actual nuclear detonations.

The timing matters because both countries have avoided nuclear explosive testing for decades. The last U.S. nuclear test explosion happened in 1992, while Russia's last was in 1990. Both nations signed the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, though the U.S. never ratified it.

Russia currently holds the world's largest nuclear arsenal with more than 5,500 confirmed warheads, according to the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN). The United States follows with 5,044 nuclear warheads.

For global markets, renewed nuclear testing could signal a return to Cold War-era tensions. Defense contractors might see increased government spending, while broader markets typically react negatively to escalating nuclear rhetoric between major powers.

The lack of clarity from both sides creates uncertainty about what "testing" actually means. Missile tests happen regularly and are considered routine military exercises. But explosive nuclear tests would mark a significant escalation and likely trigger international condemnation.